Swimmer&#39;s boat



May 17,l 1949. G. w. RYDNl-:R 2,470,725

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Patented May 17, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a swimmers boat adapted for use by a swimmer and so constructed and arranged that the swimmer may be free to carry on usual swimming activities and yet be enclosed in a device which will afford the swimmer safety.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device or this class which will be simple in structure, economical of manufacture, durable, compact, light, and highly efficient in use.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this class so arranged and constructed that it may be folded into compact form when not in use.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this class having a supporting frame and carrying at opposite ends a buoyant body.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a device of this class of means for supporting a swimmers body and allowing free use of his arms for operating a pair of oars which are mounted on the supporting frame.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a device of this class of a supporting frame provided with supporting bodies whereon the swimmer may rest when not swimming.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a device of this class of a. frame so arranged and constructed that while the swimmer is in the normal position for swimming the frame will be in a position relative to the swimmers arms so as to render assistance in supporting the body of the swimmer if necessary.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a device of this class of a pair of oars having swingably mounted paddles so arranged and constructed that when drawn in on-e direction through the water they will offer resistance and when drawn the opposite direction they will swing on their pivots to olier a minimum of resistance.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a device of this class so arranged and constructed as to embody a frame so that the centerunder the arms of the swimmer in order to ren-p, l

der support if necessary.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

t is recognized that various modications and changes may be made in the detail of structure illustrated and it is intended that such variations shall be embraced within the claims which form a part hereof.

Forming a part of this specication are drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the invention,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional View taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line T l of Fig. 5,

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8 8 of Fig. 1, slightly enlarged,

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 9 9 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 10 is a sectional View taken on line l-l of Fig. 8.

As shown in the drawings the invention comprises a supporting frame formed from a pair of sections. One of the sections embodies the oppositely disposed upper side rails I5 and I6 angularly turned at l1 and I8 to meet and preferably formed integral. A connecting bar I9 serves to connect similarly shaped and formed lower rails 2|] and 2l to the upper rails. The inner end of the rails IG and 2i and the inner ends of the rails I5 and 25 are connected to a plate 22 which is provided with a channel 23 and a tongue 24. The other section of the frame is similarly formed and comprises the oppositely disposed upper rails 25 and 26 angularly turned as in 2'! and 23 to meet and preferably formed integral. Positioned beneath and in alignment with the rails 25 and 26 are the rails 32 and 3B with the angularly turned portions 3l and 33 which meet and are connected by the connecting bar 29 with the frame positioned above. The inner ends of the rails 25 and 32 connect to a plate 34 as do lik-ewise the inner ends of the rails 3U and 26.

This plate 34 is pivotally connected by means of the pin 35 to the member 22 and the plate 34 is provided with a head 36 which seats in the channel 23 and over which lies the tongue 24 thus hingedly connecting the two sections of the frame together. The tongue 24 is provided with a slot 31 regist-ering with a passage 38 formed in the head 34. Positioned in the slot 31 and the passage 38 is a locking plate 39 which is held in position by a wire or other suitable cord 40 passed around the member 34 and through the plate 39. The cord 40 serves to retain the plate 39 in position and while this plate is in position swingable movement of the frame sections is of course prevented.

A cross bar 4| is provided on its Opposite iends with the sleeves 42 which are slidably positioned on the rails 3U and 32. Projecting upwardly from the center of this cross bar 4I is the pin 43 on which is pivotally mounted the ends of the oars 44 and 45. On the outer end 46 of each of th'ese oars is provided a pair of lugs 41 and v48 through which a rod 49 is passed to provide a pivotal mounting for the paddle formi-ng sections 50 and 5l which may swing on the rod 49 but which .are normally held in alignment with each other by means of the spring 52. Connecting th-e rails 25 and 29 together is a rod 54 in alignment with a rod 55 which serves to connect the rails 30 and 32 together. A cord 53 serves to connect the ,pin i3 to the rod 56 so that the Ycross bar 41 may slide on the rails 39 and 32 in one `direction but not in the other.

Mounted on one end of the frame 'is buoyant member or tank 55 which is hollow and air-.tight and held in position by the cord or wire 51. similar tank 58 is mounted on the opposite ends of the frame and held in position by the cord or wire 59. The cord 51 and the .cord 59 pass around the connecting posts 61, '68 and 69 which serve to connect the aligning portions of the upper frame with the lower frame.

A cross bar 6D serves to connect the rails I5 and I6 and together with the brackets or lugs 5l serves as a support for a pillow or a seat. The cross bar 62 may serve as a seat or a :foot rest. When a person is reclining `on the struc ture the head and shoulders may rest upon `the pillow supported by the .lugs or brackets 6l and the cross bar 6D and the persons feet would be supported by the cross bar 62.

Connected to and depending from the rails l5 and I6 are the supporting arms 63 and 64 which serve to support or carry the exible belt or frame 65. It will be noted that this belt 65 is positioned below the lower rails of the frame.

In use a swimmer should thrust vthe body through the belt 55 and tighten ,it about his waist thus leaving his feet projected downwardly and being free to use his arms while at the same time he would also have the free Vuse of his legs. In this manner a person could swim in water with security and safety. Becausethe attachment of the body to the frame is at va low position a tipping over of the frame is prevented. While in this position the swimmer could use the oars 44 and 45 to propel the supporting frame. As the oars move in one direction the paddle sections 50 and 5| would be in the relative position shown in Fig. 5 or Fig. 6. When the oars are moved in the backward direction the sections would swing toward each other or collapse so that a minimum resistance would be oered upon there-turn stroke of the oars. .By adjusting the `length of the cord 53 the location of the oars y.may be moved to various positions on the'frame to accommodate persons with different arm lengths. The person using the device could also, after the frame 65 has been buckled in closed position, rest upon the frame or supporting belt 65 with his body submerged to approximately the neck. Should the person desire he may lie prone on the supporting frame with his head and shoulders resting on the pillow or pad and his feet supported by the cross bar 62. The tanks at opposite ends project outwardly beyond the sides of the frame and thus serve to further resist any tilting movement of the frame. These tanks will provide the necessary buoyancy to the frame while at the same time they may be made -suiiciently small so that the device lwill .not :be cumbered.

When desired the locking plate 39 may be removed and the frame may then be folded upon itself so that it may be packed away in a small space for transporting or carrying. It will be noted that when the swimmer is secured by the belt 65 he will always be in a position where if necessary he may grasp the oppositely disposed side rails.

Thus I have provided a simple and light and compact supporting frame whereby an inexperienced swimmer or even novice learning to swim may enter the water and have a feeling oi safety and security 'thus adding to the confidence of the individual and rendering it .possible 'for the individual to learn swimming quicker and easier.

What VI claim as new is:

1. A device of the class .described comprising a .pair of frame sections hingedly connected together at their opposed ends, 'each of said sections comprising an upper frame and a lower frame positioned in alignment with each other and embodying spaced-apart rails; means for locking said sections against relative swingable movement; supporting .arms on the upper rails of .one of said sections and projecting below the 'lower rails of the corresponding section; and a supporting belt carried on the lower end of said supporting members for supporting a body at a point below the lowermost rails of said frame.

:2. A device of the class described comprising asupporting frame embodying a pair of sections hingedly connected together at opposed ends, each of said sections comprising an upper frame and .a lower frame embodying oppositely disposed s'ide rails the upper frame and the lower frame being in alignment with each other; a buoyant member on the outer end of each of said sections and lying between the lower and upper frames of Asaid section; and means on one of said sections for supporting a persons body.

'3. A device of the class described comprising a .supporting frame embodying a pair of hingedly mounted sections each of said sections embodying an upper frame and a lower frame comprising oppositely disposed side rails the side rails ,of the upper frame being in alignment with the side rails of the lower frame; means for locking said sections against relative swingable move `ment; a supporting bar mounted on the lower rails of one of said frames and slidable longitudinally thereof; means for preventing slidable movement of said supporting bar in one direcy tion beyond a pre-determined distance; and propelling meanspivotallymounted on said sup- .porting bar and-movable relatively thereto.

4. A device of the class described comprising a supporting frame embodying a pair of sec'- tions hingedly connected together at opposed ends, each of said sections embodying an upper frame and a lower frame comprising oppositely disposed side rails the corresponding rails of the upper frame being in alignment with the corresponding rails of the lower frame; a buoyant member positioned between the upper and lower rails of each of said-*sections adjacent the outer end thereof; and a body supporting means on the upper rails of each'of said sections for supporting the body of a person lying prone thereon.

5. A device of the class described comprising a frame embodying 'a 'pair of sections hingedly connected together-'at opposed ends each of said sections comprising any upper and lower frame embodying oppositely disposed side rails, the corresponding side rails of the upper frame being in alignment withthe corresponding rails of the lower frame; supporting means connected to the upper rails of one'of said sections and projecting downwardly therefrom below the lower rails of the same section; and a belt carried by 20 Number REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe le of this'patent:

UNITED STATES vPATENTS Number Name Date 1,071,113 Teters Aug. 26, 1913 1,100,195 Patus et al June 16, 1914 1,288,689 Samphere Dec. 24, 1918 2,010,371 Perri Aug. 6, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date 649,463 Germany mr--1--- Aug..25, 1937 

